Attention meteor shower watchers. This year’s Geminid Meteor Shower will be phenomenal compared to last year’s event. You can watch it all night starting in the early evening of December 13.

This year, the meteor shower will occur with little interference from moonlight and you don’t have to stay up all night to see it. You can begin watching it as soon as it starts to get dark after twilight. It will appear to be coming from the Geminids constellation, which will be rising in the northeast.

As the Geminids continue to rise higher in the sky through the evening, the rate of meteor activity will also slowly increase. When it’s directly overhead, it will be at its peak at 1 a.m. Theoretically, there will be 120 meteors per hour if you’re watching the event from pristine dark skies but for most of us that number will be less. The Geminids are slightly more active than the Persieds in August.

Here are November stargazing events, which are listed in the 2017 Hamilton Amateur Astronomers calendar. You can purchase a copy of the 2018 calendar at the club’s next meeting.

Planet watching

Mercury is visible in the evening sky early in the month. Later in the month, it’s visible in the dawn sky. Venus is briefly visible in the dawn twilight sky early in the month. Mars can be seen in the morning sky. Jupiter can be seen in morning twilight. Saturn is too close to the Sun to be seen. Uranus can be seen in the evening sky setting after midnight.

December 21 – Winter officially begins with the Winter Solstice at 11:28 a.m.

For more information, see the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers website at www.amateurastronomy.org or call (905) 627-4323. The club offers a basic astronomy course for members. A membership makes a great Christmas gift.

Then come out to the November 17 Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Telescope Clinic from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. at the Spectator Building, 44 Frid Street, Hamilton.

You’ll find knowledgeable club members with their telescopes and gear set-up to answer all your celestial questions. If you’re thinking about getting into astronomy, you’ll learn where to start, the type of gear you should buy and more importantly avoid.

If you’re already an amateur astronomer, this is a great opportunity to take the hobby to the next level. You’ll learn about CCD imaging, auto guiding and more. An optional non-perishable food donation for the Hamilton Food Share program will also be collected and appreciated at this family friendly event.

While you’re there, don’t forget to purchase the 2018 Hamilton Amateur Astronomers calendar. All photographs are taken by club members and profits go to the club. Here are November stargazing events, which are listed in the 2017 calendar.

Planet watching

Mercury can be seen in the south western evening sky. Venus and Mars can be seen in the south eastern sky at dawn. Jupiter is visible in the morning twilight south eastern sky later in the month. Saturn can be seen low in the south western evening twilight sky.

The Draconid meteor shower peaks Sunday, Oct. 8 and is best seen just after sunset. The shower appears to be coming from the Draco constellation. The Orionid meteor shower also peaks and is best seen during the evening of Friday, Oct. 20 into the morning of Saturday, Oct. 21.

This year, the moon sets early Friday evening, leaving a darker sky to help you spot streaking meteors. Don’t expect a show like the Perseids meteor shower back in August when it was possible to see up to 100 meteors per hour.

During the Orionids, you would be lucky to see 20 meteors per hour. The best way to enjoy any meteor shower is to lay on a blanket or lounge chair in a dark location and stare up into the night sky to enjoy the show.

Here are October stargazing events. Most are listed in the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers calendar.

Planet watching

Mercury appears low in the western evening sky later in the month. Venus loses its dominance as it moves lower in the eastern dawn sky. Mars is seen in the dawn sky. Jupiter is low in the south western evening sky early in the month. Saturn is low in the south western evening sky setting late evening.

Oct. 5 – Venus is extremely close to Mars in the eastern dawn sky. The Full Moon called the Hunter’s Moon rises at sunset.

Oct. 17 – The Moon is close to Mars and above Venus at dawn. Sunlight reflecting off dust particles in the solar system, known as Zodiacal Light, can be seen from a dark location in the eastern predawn sky for the next two weeks.

Jupiter and Venus will outshine all the other planets and stars in the heavens for the next few months.

Bright Venus can be seen as the “morning star” just before sunrise in the eastern dawn sky. If you’re up early, it will be easy to see relatively high in the sky for July and August. On July 20, the planet will make a close encounter with the crescent Moon. These close encounters are always amazing even with the naked eye and make impressive photographs.

Jupiter the king of the planets can be seen in the southwest evening sky and is a great object to see through your telescope or binoculars. Every night it will sink lower in the sky. On July 28, it will make a close encounter with the crescent Moon.

Here are July stargazing events. Most are listed in the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers calendar.

Planet watching

Mercury can be seen in the western evening twilight sky. Mars is too close to the Sun to be seen. Saturn can be seen in the evening sky.

July 3 – Even though it’s summer, the Sun is furthest from our planet for the entire year at more than 152 million kilometres. Our average distance to the Sun is about 149.6 kilometres. This distance is called an Astronomical Unit and is used as a measuring stick to far away objects by astronomers.

July 6 – The Moon will be close and above Saturn in the southern evening sky. Both objects are closets just before midnight. Through a telescope, you can see Saturn’s open rings.

July 9 – This month’s Full Moon is known as the Full Buck Moon or Thunder Moon.

July 13 – Venus is close and above star Aldebaran at dawn.

July 25 – Mercury is just blow star Regulus and close to the crescent Moon low at dusk.

July 27 – The Southern Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower peaks.

July 29 – From 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., Public Stargazing Night at McQuesten Park located at 1199 Upper Wentworth Street in Hamilton.

July 30 – Mercury is at its greatest distance from the Sun and easier to spot during evening twilight.

For more information, see the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers website at www.amateurastronomy.org or call (905) 627-4323. The club offers a basic astronomy course for members.

Mario Carr is the club’s director of publicity and can be reached at mariocarr@cogeco.ca. Twitter: @MarioCCarr

The Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower peaks May 5 and is best seen lying on a lounge chair in a dark location away from city lights after midnight.

The Southern Hemisphere of the Earth will have the best view with most of the activity but we could see about 30 meteors per hour. The meteors will appear to be radiating from the constellation Aquarius but can also appear anywhere in the night sky.

However, this year’s waxing gibbous Moon will wash out many of the fainter meteors but you could still see the brighter ones. The shower is caused by dust particles left behind by comet Halley that has swept by Earth’s orbit since antiquity. If you miss the peak, don’t worry. You could still see some stranglers until May 28.

Here are May stargazing events. Most are listed in the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers calendar.

Planet watching

Mercury can be seen at dawn and Venus can be seen in the morning sky. Jupiter can be seen in the evening sky. Saturn can be seen in the morning sky.

May 2 – First-quarter Moon

May 4 – The Moon and star Regulus are extremely close.

May 7 – The Moon and Jupiter are close in the evening sky.

May 10 –This month’s Full Moon is also known as the Flower Moon, Corn Planting Moon or Milk Moon.

As the nights become longer there is more time to enjoy the wonders of night sky with your telescope.

If you’re not sure how to use it, or plan to buy one as a gift, the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers has a solution. They’re having their Telescope Clinic and Open House on Saturday November 19 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Hamilton Spectator Building, Frid Street in Hamilton.

You’ll find knowledgeable amateur astronomers with their telescopes and gear to answer all your celestial questions. This is a great opportunity if you’re thinking about getting into astronomy. Learn where to get started, the type of gear you should buy and more importantly avoid.

If you’re already an amateur astronomer, this is also a great way to take your hobby to the next level. You’ll learn about CCD imaging, auto guiding and more. An optional non-perishable food donation for the Hamilton Food Share program will also be collected and appreciated at this family event.

Here are November stargazing events. Most are listed in the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers calendar.

Planet watching

Mercury can be seen in the western evening twilight sky after November 13. Bright Venus can be seen in the western evening sky. Mars sets mid-evening. Jupiter is low in the morning sky.

November 2 – The crescent Moon is above Venus and Saturn in the evening sky.

November 5 – The crescent Moon is above Mars in the evening sky.

November 6 – Move your clocks back an hour because daylight time ends and standard time begins.

Located at 5050 Harrison Rd, Binbrook, the park will waive its gate fees from 8 p.m-11 p.m. The event has always been a crowd pleaser, drawing hundreds of visitors from as far away as Toronto.

If you plan to attend, you don’t need a telescope. Just bring a blanket, groundsheet or lounge chair because lying down is the preferred method to enjoy the cosmic show. You can also listen to a night sky tour, touch meteorites and gaze through telescopes.

Mosquitoes could be nasty at this time of year, so apply repellent, wear pants and a long sleeve shirt. The club will be collecting a volunteer donation for local food banks and any help you can give would be appreciated. The event may be cancelled due to the weather so check the club’s website before leaving home.

The meteor shower receives its name because it appears to be radiating from the Perseus constellation. Most meteors will be faint but some will have long bright tails lasting several seconds.

You could see 40-100 meteors per hour. If you start looking tonight, you could see some meteors and the show is expected to last until August 26. The meteor shower happens every year, at this time, when the Earth moves through dust particles left behind from Comet109P/Swift-Tuttle that appeared in 1992.

Planet watching

Mercury can be seen in evening twilight. Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn can all be seen in the western evening sky.

Here are August stargazer events. Most are listed in the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers calendar.

August 4 – The Moon is below Mercury in the evening twilight sky.

August 5 – The Moon is below Jupiter low in evening twilight.

August 11 – The Moon is close to Saturn and Mars in the evening sky.

August 25 – The Moon is in the Hyades star cluster in the morning sky.

August 30 – From a dark location for the next two weeks, you can see light reflecting off dust particles in the solar system known as Zodiacal light in the eastern predawn sky.

For more information, see the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers website at http://www.amateurastronomy.org or call (905) 627-4323. The club offers a basic astronomy course for members.

Mario Carr is the club’s director of publicity and can be reached at mariocarr@cogeco.ca. Twitter: @MarioCCarr